Cuban-born artist Jose Bedia explores vivid symbolism and metaphors present in tribal art and to a great extent, lost to our culture, in an attempt to portray truths about humanity and the human condition. In this exploration he juxtaposes man vs. his struggles, man and his machines and other creations vs. nature.

In the the depicted painting, Equim Homo (Horseman), currently featured at Frederic Boloix Fine Arts, we see the glowing figure of a man with the mask of a horse (masks are often a big part of tribal rituals) coming out of an ominous, dark background representing a forest. Other masked characters are looking beyond the trees, perhaps at the central figure, who is portrayed as being enlightened. Within the head of horse we see Chakra-like circles that in this case also symbolize the different periods of one's life, or stations, all based on choices made or to be made as one is confronted with different paths. We see that by taking the steepest road upward we can just as easily come crashing down back to point one just like Icarus. We also see other roads, on a horizontal level, that perhaps represent drifting or conformity. This map of a given person's future based on realities, choices, goals represents the tapestry that everyman weaves for him or herself.

The artist painted the symmetrical images on the left and right using both hands, while standing in front of the middle of the work, as is common practice in tribal art traditions. The symmetry is implied rather than exact, perfection often considered to be an affront to the higher powers (as with Persian rugs, where one encounters little imperfections because perfection is considered an affront to the higher powers.

Works by José Bedia will be shown at Boloix Fine Arts through mid-December at our location at 351 Leadville Ave N. in Ketchum, Idaho. For more information please call 208 726 8810 or visit our website: http://www.boloix.com/